Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
  • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
  • G03C5/00—Photographic processes or agents therefor; Regeneration of such processing agents
  • G03C5/26—Processes using silver-salt-containing photosensitive materials or agents therefor
  • G03C5/29—Development processes or agents therefor
  • G03C5/30—Developers
  • G03C5/3021—Developers with oxydisable hydroxyl or amine groups linked to an aromatic ring
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C07D—HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
  • C07D231/00—Heterocyclic compounds containing 1,2-diazole or hydrogenated 1,2-diazole rings
  • C07D231/54—Heterocyclic compounds containing 1,2-diazole or hydrogenated 1,2-diazole rings condensed with carbocyclic rings or ring systems
  • C07D231/56—Benzopyrazoles; Hydrogenated benzopyrazoles
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
  • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
  • G03C1/00—Photosensitive materials
  • G03C1/005—Silver halide emulsions; Preparation thereof; Physical treatment thereof; Incorporation of additives therein
  • G03C1/04—Silver halide emulsions; Preparation thereof; Physical treatment thereof; Incorporation of additives therein with macromolecular additives; with layer-forming substances
  • G03C1/043—Polyalkylene oxides; Polyalkylene sulfides; Polyalkylene selenides; Polyalkylene tellurides
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
  • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
  • G03C1/00—Photosensitive materials
  • G03C1/005—Silver halide emulsions; Preparation thereof; Physical treatment thereof; Incorporation of additives therein
  • G03C1/06—Silver halide emulsions; Preparation thereof; Physical treatment thereof; Incorporation of additives therein with non-macromolecular additives
  • G03C1/08—Sensitivity-increasing substances
  • G03C1/10—Organic substances
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
  • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
  • G03C1/00—Photosensitive materials
  • G03C1/005—Silver halide emulsions; Preparation thereof; Physical treatment thereof; Incorporation of additives therein
  • G03C1/06—Silver halide emulsions; Preparation thereof; Physical treatment thereof; Incorporation of additives therein with non-macromolecular additives
  • G03C1/42—Developers or their precursors
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
  • G03C—PHOTOSENSITIVE MATERIALS FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC PURPOSES; PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES, e.g. CINE, X-RAY, COLOUR, STEREO-PHOTOGRAPHIC PROCESSES; AUXILIARY PROCESSES IN PHOTOGRAPHY
  • G03C5/00—Photographic processes or agents therefor; Regeneration of such processing agents
  • G03C5/26—Processes using silver-salt-containing photosensitive materials or agents therefor
  • G03C5/29—Development processes or agents therefor
  • G03C5/30—Developers
  • G03C5/3014—Hydrazine; Hydroxylamine; Urea; Derivatives thereof
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10S430/00—Radiation imagery chemistry: process, composition, or product thereof
  • Y10S430/156—Precursor compound
  • Y10S430/16—Blocked developers

Definitions

• This invention relates to a photographic image-forming method using a silver halide photographic light-sensitive element. More particularly, it relates to a method of developing a silver halide photographic light-sensitive element to provide a markedly high contrast negative image and, furthermore, a dot image having good dot quality and wide screen range.
• a method of obtaining high contrast and negative photographic characteristics by adding a hydrazine compound to a silver halide photographic emulsion is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,419,975. This specification describes that when a hydrazine compound is added to a silver chlorobromide emulsion and development is performed with a developer having as high pH as 12.8, markedly high contrast photographic characteristics (gamma ( ⁇ ) is more than 10) can be obtained.
• British Pat. No. 1,376,600 discloses a method for obtaining photographic characteristics preferred for reproduction of a dot image or line original, by the use of a stable developer.
• This specification describes that development of a silver halide light-sensitive element with a developer containing (1) a p-dihydroxybenzene derivative, (2) at least 5 g/l of sulfite ions, and (3) a nitroindazole or nitrobenzimidazole compound provides an image having good dot quality.
• the dot quality obtained is inferior to that obtained using the conventional lith developer; although the developer is stabilized more than the lith developer.
• this method is still unsatisfactory as a method of producing a dot photographic original for plate-making.
• the method has the disadvantage that as the concentration of sulfite is increased in order to increase the stability of the developer, the dot quality is markedly deteriorated.
• a method which can be used to obtain photographic characteristics preferred for reproduction of a dot image by the use of a stable developer is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,221,857.
• This method comprises image-wise exposing a light-sensitive element containing a silver halide emulsion of materially the surface latent image type and an acylhydrazine compound, and then developing the thus-exposed light-sensitive element with dihydroxybenzenes in the presence of polyalkylene oxides.
• a dot image can be obtained which is increased in intensity to higher levels than that obtained by a combination of the conventional lith photographic light-sensitive element and lith development. Furthermore, the image is free from the fringe effect. This method, however, cannot provide such wide screen range as obtained by the conventional lith development.
• the screen range obtained by a combination of the lith photographic light-sensitive element and lith development is generally narrower than the screen range which is theoretically expected. This is due to the fact that the combination of the lith photographic light-sensitive element and lith development is easily subject to the development-inhibiting effect caused by Br.sup. ⁇ ions released from those particles developed during development, a local reduction in pH owing to the development reaction, and so forth. That is, the foregoing development-inhibiting effect is increased as where the development occurs actively. In particular, at highly exposed areas, i.e., areas where the blackening dot area is large, small non-blackening areas between dots are apt to be not developed. As a result the packing of maximum points (dots having the largest blackening area) becomes particularly difficult, and the screen range of the maximum point side is narrowed.
• An object of this invention is to provide a method of forming a photographic image having markedly high negative gradation, by the use of a stable developer.
• Another object of this invention is to provide a method of forming a dot image having good dot quality, by the use of a stable developer.
• Still another object of this invention is to provide a method of forming a dot image having good gradation reproductivity and furthermore good dot image quality.
• X represents an indazole radical which is linked to the benzene nucleus through the nitrogen atom at the 1- or 2-position thereof and which may be substituted;
• R 4 and R 5 each represents a hydrogen atom or a group which is hydrolyzed in the presence of an alkali
• R 1 , R 2 and R 3 may be the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkylthio group, an arylthio group, a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, an alkoxy group, an aryloxy group, an acyl group, an alkoxycarbonyl group, an amido group, a sulfonamido group, a carbamoyl group, a sulfamoyl group, a heterocyclic radical, or X, and R 2 and R 3 may combine together to form a ring.
• R 6 represents an aryl group which may be substituted
• R 7 represents a hydrogen atom, an aryl group which may be substituted, and an alkyl group which may be substituted.
• Silver halide particles used in this invention are substantially of the surface latent image type, in other words, they are not substantially of the internal latent image type.
• substantially of the surface latent image type as used herein is meant that when after imagewise exposure for 1 to 1/100 second, development is performed by Surface Development (A) and Internal Development (B) as described hereinafter, the sensitivity obtained by Surface Development (A) is greater than that obtained by Internal Development (B).
• sensitivity as used herein is defined as follows: ##EQU1## wherein S represents sensitivity, and Eh represents an exposure amount required for obtaining a density of 1/2(D max +D min ) (i.e., just halfway between Maximum Density (D max ) and Minimum Density (D min )).
• the emulsion of this invention is not substantially of the surface latent image type, it undesirably provides positive gradation as well as negative gradation.
• Silver halide which can be used in the silver halide light-sensitive element of this invention includes silver chloride, silver chlorobromide, silver bromide, silver iodobromide and silver chloroiodobromide. Its average grain size is preferably about 0.7 micron or less and more preferably 0.4 micron or less.
• average grain size is generally used in the art of silver halide photographic science and thus can be easily understood by one skilled in the art.
• grain size is meant a grain diameter when the grain is spherical or similar to a ball.
• edge length When the grain is cubic, the value of (edge length) ⁇ 4/ ⁇ is designated as the grain size.
• the average grain size is determined based on the algebraic average or geometric average of grain projected areas. A method of determining the average grain size is described in detail in C. E. K. Mees and T. H. James, The Theory of the Photographic Process, 3rd Ed., pages 36 to 43, Macmillan (1966).
• gelatin as a binder or a protective colloid of the photographic emulsion, although other hydrophilic colloids can be used.
• Substances which can be used include proteins such as gelatin derivatives, graft polymers of gelatin and other polymers, albumin, and casein; cellulose derivatives such as hydroxyethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose, and cellulose sulfates; sugar derivatives such as sodium alginate and starch derivatives; and hydrophilic synthetic homo- or copolymers, such as polyvinyl alcohol, partial acetal of polyvinyl alcohol, poly-N-vinyl pyrrolidone, polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, polyacrylamide, polyvinyl imidazole, and polyvinyl pyrazol.
• Gelatins which can be used include lime-treated gelatin, acid-treated gelatin, hydrolytic products of gelatin, and enzymic decomposition products of gelatin. These gelatin derivatives can be prepared by reacting gelatin with, for example, acid halide, acid anhydride, isocyanates, bromoacetic acid, alkane sultones, vinylsulfonamides, maleinimides, polyalkylene oxides, and epoxy compounds. Suitable examples of such gelatin derivatives are described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,614,928, 3,132,945, 3,186,846 and 3,312,553, British Pat. Nos. 861,414, 1,033,189 and 1,005,784, and Japanese Patent Publication No. 26845/67.
• gelatin graft polymers can be prepared by grafting homo- or copolymers of vinyl monomers, such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and their derivatives (e.g., esters and amides), acrylonitrile and styrene, on gelatin.
• vinyl monomers such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid and their derivatives (e.g., esters and amides), acrylonitrile and styrene
• graft polymers of gelatin and polymers having certain compatibility therewith such as polymers of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, acrylamide, methacrylamide, hydroxyalkyl methacrylate, etc.
• examples of such gelatin graft polymers are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,763,625, 2,831,767, and 2,956,884, etc.
• hydrophilic synthetic homo- or copolymers are described in, for example, West German Patent Application (OLS) No. 2,312,708, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,620,751 and 3,879,205, and Japanese Patent Publication No. 7561/68.
• the silver halide emulsion which is used in this invention is preferably chemically sensitized, although it may not be chemically sensitized.
• a method of chemically sensitizing the silver halide emulsion sulfur sensitization, reduction sensitization and noble metal sensitization are known.
• noble metal sensitization methods a gold sensitization method is typical, in which a gold compound, mainly a gold metal complex salt, is used.
• complex salts of platinum, palladium, iridium, etc. are advantageously used.
• the reduction sensitization method can be used to such an extent not to produce fog which is undesirable for practical use.
• Sulfur sensitizers which can be used include thiosulfates, thioureas, thiazoles and rhodanines. Suitable examples of such sulfur sensitizers are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,574,944, 2,410,689, 2,278,947, 2,728,668 and 3,656,955.
• Reduction sensitizers which can be used include stannous salts, amines, formamidinesulfinic acid, and silane compounds. Suitable examples of such reduction sensitizers are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,487,850, 2,518,698, 2,983,609, 2,983,610 and 2,694,637.
• complex salts of Group VIII metals such as platinum, iridium and palladium, of the Periodic Table can be used.
• Examples of such complex salts are described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,448,060, British Pat. No. 618,061, etc.
• the photographic emulsion of this invention can be prepared by methods as described in P. Glafkides, Chimie et Physique Photographique, Paul Montel (1967); C. F. Duffin, Photographic Emulsion Chemistry, The Focal Press (1966); V. L. Zelikman et al., Making and Coating Photographic Emulsion, The Focal Press (1964), etc. Any of an acidic method, a neutral method, an ammonia method, etc., can be used. As a method of reacting a soluble silver salt and a soluble halide, any of a one-side mixing method, a simultaneous mixing method and a combination thereof can be used.
• a method in which particles are formed in the presence of excessive silver ions i.e., so-called reverse mixing method can be used.
• a method in which the pAg in a liquid phase where silver halide is formed is maintained constant i.e., so-called controlled double jet method, which is one of the simultaneous mixing methods, can be used.
• controlled double jet method an emulsion of silver halide having a regular crystal form and a nearly uniform grain size can be obtained.
• Silver halide grains in the photographic emulsion used in the present invention may have a comparatively broad size distribution but, preferably, have a narrow grain size distribution.
• particles constituting 90% of the total weight or number of silver halide particles have grain sizes falling within the range of average grain size ⁇ 40%.
• such an emulsion is called a single-dispersion emulsion.
• Silver halide particles in the photographic emulsion may be in a regular crystal form, such as a cubic form and an octahedral form, an irregular crystal form, such as a spherical form and a plate-like form, or in a composite form of such regular and irregular crystal forms. They may be a mixture of particles having various crystal forms.
• the inner part and exterior part of the silver halide grains may be different phases or they may comprise a single homogeneous phase.
• Formation or physical aging of silver halide particles may be performed in the presence of cadmium salts, zinc salts, lead salts, thallium salts, iridium salts or its complex salts, rhodium salts or its complex salts, iron salts or its complex salts, and the like.
• Two or more kinds of silver halide emulsions which are separately prepared may be mixed and used in the practice of this invention.
• soluble salts From the silver halide emulsion are usually removed soluble salts after the precipitate-formation or physical aging.
• soluble salts there may be used either a well-known Nudel washing method in which soluble salts are removed by gelling gelatin, or a flocculation method in which inorganic salts comprising polyvalent anions, such as sodium sulfate, anionic surfactants, anionic polymers (e.g., polystyrene sulfonate), and gelatin derivatives (e.g., aliphatic acylated gelatin, aromatic acylated gelatin, and aromatic carbamoylated gelatin) are utilized.
• the removal of such soluble salts may be omitted.
• iodide e.g., potassium iodide
• the amount of iodide added is preferably from about 10 -4 to 3 ⁇ 10 -2 mol/mol Ag, with the range of from about 10 -4 to 10 -2 mol/mol Ag being particularly preferred.
• the silver halide photographic light-sensitive element for use in the practice of this invention is basically sufficient to have the foregoing silver halide emulsion layer of substantially the surface latent image type.
• the element may include other various auxiliary layers well known in the art, such as an undercoat layer, an overcoat layer, a protective layer, and an intermediate layer.
• One of the features of this invention is to use a silver halide photographic light-sensitive element in which one or more of the compounds represented by formula (I) below are introduced into the silver halide emulsion layer or at least one layer of the foregoing auxiliary layers comprising hydrophilic colloid.
• X represents an indazole radical which is linked to the benzene nucleus through the nitrogen atom at the 1- or 2-position thereof, and which may be substituted.
• substituents include a nitro group, an amino group, a carboxy group, a cyano group, a halogen atom (e.g., Br and Cl), a hydroxy group, an alkyl group (preferably containing 1 to 12 carbon atoms, e.g., a methyl group and an ethyl group), an alkoxy group (preferably containing 1 to 12 carbon atoms, e.g., a methoxy group and an ethoxy group), an alkoxycarbonyl group (preferably containing 2 to 13 carbon atoms, e.g., an ethoxycarbonyl group), an alkylthio group (preferably containing 1 to 12 carbon atoms e.g., a methylthio group and an n-butylthio group), an acyl group (preferably containing an alkyl moiety having up to 11 carbon atoms, e.g., an acetyl group), a sulfamoyl group
• an indazole group which is substituted by a nitro group at the 5-position thereof is most suitable.
• R 1 , R 2 and R 3 may be the same or different and each represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom (e.g., Cl, Br and I), a hydroxy group, an alkyl group (preferably containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms, e.g., a methyl group, a t-butyl group, a t-octyl group and a pentadecyl group), an aryl group (e.g., a phenyl group and a naphthyl group), an alkylthio group (preferably containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms, e.g., a methylthio group, an octylthio group, a decylthio group, and an octadecylthio group), an arylthio group (e.g., a phenylthio group), an alkoxy group (preferably containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms, e.g.,
• a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, an alkylthio group, a halogen atom, an alkoxy group, a carbamoyl group, and X are preferred.
• a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkylthio group, and an aryl group are particularly preferred.
• R 2 and R 3 may combine together to form a saturated or unsaturated ring (e.g., a naphthohydroquinone ring, a 5,6-tetramethylenehydroquinone ring, and a 5,6-(1,3-cyclopentylenyl)hydroquinone ring, when named together with the mother nucleus).
• the saturated or unsaturated ring may be substituted by the foregoing groups described with respect to R 1 , R 2 and R 3 .
• R 4 and R 5 each represents a hydrogen atom or a group which can be hydrolyzed under alkaline conditions (e.g., an acyl group, such as an acetyl group; a halogen-substituted acyl group, such as a chloroacetyl group and a dichloroacetyl group; an alkoxycarbonyl group, such as an ethoxycarbonyl group; and an aryloxycarbonyl group, such as a phenoxycarbonyl group).
• a hydrogen atom is preferred.
• the compounds represented by formula (I) can be prepared, in general, by the following two methods.
• One of the methods comprises reacting benzoquinone or a naphthoquinone derivative with an indazole derivative at a temperature of from room temperature to about 100° C. in chloroform or a halogenated hydrocarbon, such as 1,2-dichloroethane, carbon tetrachloride and methylchloroform, in the presence of an acid catalyst, such as p-toluenesulfonic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, methanesulfonic acid, and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid.
• an acid catalyst such as p-toluenesulfonic acid, benzenesulfonic acid, methanesulfonic acid, and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid.
• chlorine-, bromine- or iodine-substituted benzoquinone or a naphthoquinone derivative is reacted with an indazole derivative at a temperature of from about room temperature to 100° C. in an aprotic solvent, such as acetone, tetrahydrofuran, and dimethylformamide, in the presence of a base, such as potassium carbonate, sodium hydrogencarbonate, and sodium hydride to thereby provide a quinone compound.
• a base such as potassium carbonate, sodium hydrogencarbonate, and sodium hydride
• the quinone compound thus-obtained is reduced by a reductant, such as diethylhydroxyamine and sodium hydrosulfite.
• Benzoquinone derivatives which are used as starting materials can be prepared by the methods described or referred to, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,899,334 and 3,700,453, British Pat. Nos. 557,750 and 557,802, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,043,690, 2,616,893 and 3,009,958, Helv. Chim. Acta., 30, 578 (1947), and J. Org. Chem., 22, 772 (1957), all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
• Indazole derivatives can be prepared by the methods described or referred to, for example, in Org. Syn. Coll. Vol., 3, 660 (1955); Synthesis, 375 (1972); Ber., 55, 1139 (1922); J. Chem. Soc., 2735 (1960); Ann., 478, 154 (1930); Ber., 43, 2543 (1910); Ann. Chem., 681, 45 (1965); Ber., 53B, 1211 (1920); J. Prakt. Chem., 118, 75 (1928); Liebigs. Ann. Chem., 586, 84 (1954); and Heterocyclic Compounds, Bd5, 162-192, John Wiley & Sons, New York (1957), all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
• the amount of the compound represented by formula (I) being added to the silver halide photographic light-sensitive element is from about 10 -6 to 10 -1 mol/mol Ag, preferably from about 10 -5 to 10 -2 mol/mol Ag, and most preferably from about 1 ⁇ 10 -5 to 1 ⁇ 10 -3 mol/mol Ag.
• the principal feature of the present photographic image-forming method resides in that a silver halide photographic light-sensitive element containing a compound represented by formula (I) is imagewise exposed and then developed in the presence of a compound represented by formula (II).
• Imagewise exposure can be performed by the usual method.
• conventional lith light-sensitive element it is also possible to apply so-called dot exposure wherein an original image is exposed to light through a contact screen.
• the method of this invention is advantageous in that in performing the dot exposure, it is not necessary to specifically choose a contact screen suitable for the light-sensitive element for use in the practice of this invention.
• a specific screen must be used with known lith light-sensitive element as disclosed in Japanese patent application (OPI) No. 22438/76 (the term “OPI” as used herein refers to a "published unexamined Japanese patent application") and U.S. Pat. No. 2,419,975.
• OPI Japanese patent application
• U.S. Pat. No. 2,419,975 Japanese patent application
• development or development processing and "developer or development processing solution” as used herein include processing with the use of a developer containing a developing agent and said developer.
• developer or development processing solution include processing with the use of a developer containing a developing agent and said developer.
• alkali activator processing wherein a light-sensitive element previously containing therein a developing agent is processed with an alkaline solution, and said activator processing solution.
• Preferred developing agents which can be used in the development processing of this invention include developing agents used in black-and-white photographic processing.
• 3-pyrazolidones e.g., 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidone
• aminophenols e.g., N-methyl-p-aminophenol
• 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolines e.g., dihydroxybenzenes (e.g., hydroquinone) and mixtures thereof are preferred.
• dihydroxybenzenes e.g., hydroquinone
• the development processing solution of this invention generally contains known preservatives, alkaline agents, pH buffers, antifoggants, etc., in addition to the foregoing developing agents. Additionally, it may contain auxiliary dissolving agents, color-controlling agents, development accelerators, aurfactants, defoaming agents, hard water-softening agents, hardeners, tackifiers, etc. In order to obtain paticularly high dot quality, it is preferred, as described hereinafter, to incorporate polyalkylene oxides and nitroindazoles into the development processing solution of this invention.
• the development processing solution of this invention may further contain, as agents to prevent stain resulting from transfer of silver to film, 2-mercaptobenzimidazolesulfonic acids and 2-mercaptobenzothiazolesulfonic acids.
• the processing temperature usually ranges between about 18° C. and 50° C. Temperatures higher than 50° C. and lower than 18° C. can be employed.
• the optimum pH of the development processing solution varies depending on the type of the compound of formula (II) used.
• the pH is about 9 or more.
• the range of about 9.5 to 12.3 is preferred.
• the alkali activator it is sufficient to be about 11.5 or more and preferably about 12.0 or more.
• the development processing of this invention is performed in the presence of a compound represented by formula (II).
• a compound represented by formula (II) is introduced into at least one hydrophilic colloid layer of the present silver halide photographic light-sensitive element.
• a compound represented by formula (II) is incorporated into a prebath prior to development processing.
• a compound represented by formula (II) is incorporated into a development processing solution.
• the aryl group represented by R 6 which may be substituted, is a monocyclic or bicyclic aryl group. Examples are a benzene ring and a naphthalene ring. Particularly preferred ones are those containing a benzene ring.
• the aryl group may be substituted. Preferred examples of such substituents are shown below:
• Straight, branched and cyclic alkyl groups preferably containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as a methyl group, an ethyl group, an isopropyl group, an n-dodecyl group, and a cyclohexyl group;
• Aralkyl groups preferably monocyclic and bicyclic aralkyl groups having an alkyl moiety containing 1 to 3 carbon atoms, such as a benzyl group;
• Alkoxy groups preferably containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as a methoxy group and an ethoxy group;
• Amino groups preferably an --NH 2 group and those amino groups mono- or di-substituted by an alkyl group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as a dimethylamino group and a diethylamino group;
• Aryloxy groups preferably a phenoxy group
• X 0 is a divalent linking group selected from the following x 1 to x 11 : ##STR4##
• R 11 is a hydrogen atom, an aliphatic group (preferably, an alkyl group containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, a cycloalkyl group containing 3 to 12 carbon atoms, or an alkenyl group containing 2 to 20 carbon atoms), or an aromatic group (preferably, a phenyl group and a naphthyl group),
• R 12 is a hydrogen atom or an aliphatic group represented by R 11 ,
• R 11 and R 12 may combine with each other to form a ring, with preferred examples of such ring being ##STR5## (in this case, A represents hydrogen),
• any one of R 11 and R 12 is a hydrogen atom
• A represents a straight, branched or cyclic alkyl group (preferably containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as a methyl group, a propyl group, and an n-hexyl group), a monocyclic or bicyclic aryl group (e.g., a phenyl group), a monocyclic or bicyclic aralkyl group (preferably containing 7 to 26 carbon atoms, such as a benzyl group), and a heterocyclic radical.
• a straight, branched or cyclic alkyl group preferably containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as a methyl group, a propyl group, and an n-hexyl group
• a monocyclic or bicyclic aryl group e.g., a phenyl group
• a monocyclic or bicyclic aralkyl group preferably containing 7 to 26 carbon atoms, such as a benzyl group
• the heterocyclic radical represented by A is a 5- or 6-membered ring containing therein at least one hetero atoms and may be condensed with an aromatic ring, particularly a benzene ring. Particularly, a heterocyclic radical containing at least one nitrogen atom is preferred.
• Examples are a thiazolyl group, a benzthiazolyl group, an imidazolyl group, a thiazolinyl group, a pyridinyl group, a tetrazolyl group, a benztriazolyl group, an indazolyl group, a benzimidazolyl group, a hydroxytetrazainden-2 or 3-yl; mercapto group-containing heterocyclic groups, such as 2-mercaptobenzthiazolyl group and a 2-mercaptobenzoxazolyl group; and quaternary nitrogen atom-containing heterocyclic radicals, such as 2-methylbenzthiazolinium-3-yl, 2-(N-sulfoethylbenzthiazolinio), and N,N-dimethylbenzimidazolinium-2-yl.
• an alkoxy group (preferably containing 1 to 18 carbon atoms, such as a methoxy group),
• alkoxycarbonyl group preferably containing 2 to 19 carbon atoms, such as an ethoxycarbonyl group
• a monocyclic or bicyclic aryl group e.g., a phenyl group
• an alkyl group (preferably containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as a methyl group and a tert-amyl group),
• a dialkylamino group (preferably containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as a dimethylamino group),
• alkylthio group preferably containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as a methylthio group
• a mercapto group a hydroxy group, a halogen atom, a carboxy group, a nitro group, a cyano group,
• a sulfonyl group (preferably containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as a methylsulfonyl group), and
• a carbamoyl group (preferably containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, such as a carbamoyl group and a dimethylcarbamoyl group).
• (a) Z is a group of non-metallic atoms and combines with ##STR7## to form a 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic ring, with suitable examples of such 5- or 6-membered heterocyclic rings being a thiazoline ring, a benzthiazoline ring, a naphthothiazoline ring, a thiazolidine ring, an oxazoline ring, a benzoxazoline ring, an oxazolidine ring, a selenazoline ring, a benzselenazoline ring, an imidazoline ring, a benzimidazoline ring, a tetrazoline ring, a triazoline ring, a thiadiazoline ring, a 1,2-dihydropyridine ring, a 1,2-dihydroquinone ring, a 1,2,3,4-tetrahydroquinoline ring, a perhydro-1,3-oxazin
• (b) B is a hydrogen atom or a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic group [such as an alkyl group (preferably containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, e.g., a methyl group and an ethyl group), an alkenyl group (preferably containing 2 to 22 carbon atoms, e.g., an allyl group), and an alkynyl group (preferably containing 2 to 20 carbon atoms, e.g., a butynyl group)], which may be substituted by an alkoxy group, an alkylthio group, an acylamino group, an acyloxy group, a mercapto group, a sulfo group, a carboxy group, a hydroxy group, a halogen atom, an amino group, or the like;
• a saturated or unsaturated aliphatic group such as an alkyl group (preferably containing 1 to 20 carbon atoms, e.g., a methyl group and
• n 0 or 1.
• R 8 is the same as R 7 as described hereinafter;
• Y" is the same as Y described in Group (6), with divalent linking groups represented by y 3 to y 5 being particularly preferred.
• R 7 is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group which may be substituted, or an aryl group which may be substituted.
• Substituents which can be used include a halogen atom, a cyano group, a carboxy group, and a sulfo group.
• alkyl and aryl groups are a methyl group, an ethyl group, an n-propyl group, an isopropyl group, a phenyl group, a 4-chlorophenyl group, a 4-bromophenyl group, a 3-chlorophenyl group, a 4-cyanophenyl group, a 4-carboxyphenyl group, a 4-sulfophenyl group, a 3,5-dichlorophenyl group, and a 2,5-dichlorophenyl group.
• a hydrogen atom a methyl group and a phenyl group (including a substituted phenyl group) are preferred, and a hydrogen atom is particularly preferred.
• the amount of the compound represented by formula (II) incorporated into the silver halide light-sensitive element is from about 10 -8 to 10 -1 mol/mol Ag and preferably from about 10 -6 to 5 ⁇ 10 -2 mol/mol Ag.
• the compound represented by formula (II) is incorporated into silver halide light-sensitive element in an amount of more than the above-defined amount (i.e., more than 10 -1 mol/mol Ag), undesired fog will increase.
• a method which is usually used to add an additive to a photographic emulsion can be employed.
• the compound when the compound is water-soluble, it is dissolved in water to prepare a suitable concentration of an aqueous solution.
• a suitable organic solvent exerting no adverse influences on photographic characteristics, which is selected from organic solvents compatible with water, such as alcohols, glycols, ketones, esters, and amides, to prepare a solution.
• the thus-obtained aqueous solution or organic solution is added to a photographic emulsion or a light-insensitive hydrophilic colloid solution.
• a method which is often used in adding a water-insoluble (so-called oil-soluble) coupler to an emulsion in the form of a dispersion can be employed.
• the amount of the compound represented by formula (II) used when introduced into a prebath or development processing solution is from about 5 mg to 5 g, preferably from about 10 mg to 1 g, per liter of the prebath or development processing solution.
• Adding hydrazine compounds to the silver halide photographic emulsion or developer is known, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,730,727 (wherein a developer comprising ascorbic acid and hydrazine is used), U.S. Pat. No. 3,227,552 (wherein hydrazine is used as an auxiliary developing agent to obtain a direct positive color image), U.S. Pat. No. 3,386,831 (wherein ⁇ -monophenylhydrazide of an aliphatic carboxylic acid is used as a stabilizer of a silver halide light-sensitive element), U.S. Pat. No. 2,419,975, Mees, The Theory of Photographic Process, 3rd Ed., page 281 (1966), etc.
• Polyalkylene oxides and their derivatives which can be used in this invention have a molecular weight of at least 600. These polyalkylene oxides and their derivatives may be incorporated into either the silver halide light-sensitive element or the developer.
• the polyalkylene oxide compounds as used herein include condensates of polyalkylene oxide comprising 10 or more of alkylene oxide containing 2 to 4 carbon atoms, such as ethylene oxide, propylene-1,2-oxide, and butylene-1,2-oxide, preferably ethylene oxide, and compounds containing therein at least one active hydrogen atom, such as water, aliphatic alcohol, aromatic alcohol, aliphatic acid, organic amine and hexitol; and block copolymers of two or more polyalkylene oxides.
• polyalkylene oxide compounds examples are as follows:
• Polyalkylene glycols polyalkylene glycol alkyl ethers, polyalkylene glycol aryl ethers, polyalkylene glycol alkylaryl ethers, polyalkylene glycol esters, polyalkylene glycol aliphatic acid amides, polyalkylene glycol amines, polyalkylene glycol block copolymers, and polyalkylene glycol graft polymers.
• polyalkylene oxide chains may be contained in the molecular.
• the total of alkylene oxide units contained in the molecule should be at least 10, although each polyalkylene oxide chain may comprise less than 10 of alkylene oxide units.
• these polyalkylene oxide chains may comprise different alkylene oxide units, such as ethylene oxide and propylene oxide.
• Polyalkylene oxide compounds as used herein preferably contain therein from 14 to 100 of alkylene oxide units.
• polyalkylene oxide compounds are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,011,082 and 4,144,069 and Japanese Patent Application (OPI) No. 3217/78, and they can be used alone or in combination with each other.
• polyalkylene oxide compounds can be dissolved in water or a low boiling point organic solvent compatible with water and added to an emulsion at a suitable stage before coating, preferably after chemical aging. Alternatively, they may be added not to the emulsion, but to light-insensitive hydrophilic colloid layers, such as an intermediate layer, a protective layer and a filter layer.
• polyalkylene oxide compound When the foregoing polyalkylene oxide compound is added to a developer, it can be added as a solid, a suitable concentration of an aqueous solution, or as a solution in a low boiling point organic solvent compatible with water.
• the polyalkylene oxide compound of this invention can be added to the light-sensitive element in an amount of from about 5 ⁇ 10 -4 to 5 g, preferably from about 1 ⁇ 10 -3 to 1 g, per mol of silver halide.
• the polyalkylene oxide compound of this invention can be added to the developer in an amount of about 1 ⁇ 10 -2 g or more, preferably from about 5 ⁇ 10 -2 to 40 g, per liter of the developer.
• Fixers having formulations which are generally used can be used in this invention.
• Fixing agents which can be used include thiosulfuric acid salts, thiocyanic acid salts, and furthermore organic sulfur compounds which are known to be effective as fixing agents.
• the fixer may contain a water-soluble aluminum salt, etc., as hardeners.
• a negative image produced by the method of this invention has good graininess and markedly high gradation wherein gamma ( ⁇ ) exceeds 10. Also, a dot image produced by the method of this invention has high dot quality and, at the same time, has screen range equal to or more wide than that obtained by the usual lith light-sensitive element. Thus, the dot image thus-obtained is very useful as a light-sensitive element for printing. Furthermore, this invention is very advantageous in that it can produce high quality photographic images by the use of a stable processing solution. The use of a stable processing solution reduces the amount of handling of solutions which has heretofore been required.
• the silver halide photographic light-sensitive element and processing solution as used herein may contain various photographic additives which are known in the art. This invention also includes embodiments wherein such known photographic additives are used.
• Antifoggants or stabilizers which can be used include azoles, such as benzothiazolium salts, nitroindazoles, nitrobenzimidazoles, chlorobenzimidazoles, bromobenzimidazoles, mercaptothiazoles, mercaptobenzothiazoles, mercaptobenzimidazoles, mercaptothiadiazoles, aminotriazoles, benzotriazoles, nitrobenzotriazoles, and mercaptotetrazoles (particularly, 1-phenyl-5-mercaptotetrazole); mercaptopyrimidines; mercaptotriazines; thioketo compounds, such as oxazolinethion; azaindenes, such as triazaindenes, tetrazaindenes (particularly, 4-hydroxy
• a water-insoluble or water-sparingly-soluble synthetic polymer dispersion can be incorporated into the photographic emulsion of this invention.
• Synthetic polymers which can be used include homo- and copolymers of alkyl acrylate, alkyl methacrylate, alkoxyalkyl acrylate, alkoxyalkyl methacrylate, glycidyl acrylate, glycidyl methacrylate, acrylamide, methacrylamide, vinyl ester (e.g., vinyl acetate), acrylonitrile, olefin and styrene, and copolymers of such monomers and acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, ⁇ , ⁇ -unsaturated dicarboxylic acid, hydroxyalkyl acrylate, hydroxyalkyl methacrylate, sulfoalkyl acrylate, sulfoalkyl methacrylate, and styrenesulfonic acid.
• synthetic polymers as described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,376,005, 2,739,137, 2,853,457, 3,062,674, 3,411,911, 3,488,708, 3,525,620, 3,607,290, 3,635,715, and 3,645,740, and British Pat. Nos. 1,186,699 and 1,307,373, can be used.
• the high contrast emulsion of this invention is suitable for reproduction of a line image, in which dimension stability is significant.
• it is preferred for the present emulsion to contain therein the foregoing polymer dispersion.
• the photographic emulsion for use in this invention may be spectral-sensitized with methine dyes and the like.
• Dyes which can be used include cyanine dye, merocyanine dye, complex cyanine dye, complex merocyanine dye, holopolar cyanine dye, hemicyanine dye, styryl dye, and hemioxonol dye.
• Particularly preferred examples are cyanine dye, merocyanine dye and complex merocyanine dye.
• To these dyes can be applied any of nuclei which are usually used for cyanine dyes as basic heterocyclic nuclei.
• Nuclei which can be applied include a pyrroline nucleus, an oxazoline nucleus, a thiazoline nucleus, a pyrrole nucleus, an oxazole nucleus, a thiazole nucleus, a selenazole nucleus, an imidazole nucleus, a tetrazole nucleus, and a pyridine nucleus; nuclei comprising the foregoing nuclei and alicyclic hydrocarbon rings fused thereto; and nuclei comprising the foregoing nuclei and aromatic hydrocarbon rings fused thereto, for example, an indolenine nucleus, a benzindolenine nucleus, an indole nucleus, a benzoxazole nucleus, a naphthoxazole nucleus, a benzothiazole nucleus, a naphthothiazole nucleus, a benzoselenazole nucle
• nuclei having the ketomethylene structure 5- or 6-membered hererocyclic nuclei, such as a pyrazolin-5-on nucleus, a thiohydantoin nucleus, a 2-thioxazolidin-2,4-dion nucleus, a thiazolidin-2,4-dion nucleus, a rhodanine nucleus, and a thiobarbituric acid nucleus.
• hererocyclic nuclei such as a pyrazolin-5-on nucleus, a thiohydantoin nucleus, a 2-thioxazolidin-2,4-dion nucleus, a thiazolidin-2,4-dion nucleus, a rhodanine nucleus, and a thiobarbituric acid nucleus.
• sensitization dyes can be used alone or in combination with each other. In particular, for the purpose of supersensitization, they are often used in combination with each other. Typical examples of such sensitization dyes are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,688,545, 2,977,229, 3,397,060, 3,522,052, 3,527,641, 3,617,293, 3,628,964, 3,666,480, 3,679,428, 3,703,377, 3,769,301, 3,814,609, and 3,837,862, British Pat. No. 1,344,281, and Japanese Patent Publication No. 4936/68, etc.
• dyes which per se have no spectral sensitization action, but exhibit high color sensitization, or substances which absorb substantially no visible light, but exhibit supersensitization may be incorporated into the emulsion.
• aminostilbene compounds substituted by nitrogen-containing heterocyclic rings described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,933,390 and 3,635,721
• aromatic organic acids-formaldehyde condensates described in, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,743,510
• cadmium salts and azaindene compounds
• azaindene compounds can be incorporated.
• Combinations disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,615,613, 3,615,641, 3,617,295 and 3,635,721 are particularly useful.
• the photograhic emulsion for use in this invention may contain water-soluble dyes as filter dyes or for various purposes of prevention of irradiation, etc.
• Water-soluble dyes which can be used include oxonol dye, hemioxonol dye, styryl dye, merocyanine dye, cyanine dye, and azo dye. Of these compounds, oxonol dye, hemioxonol dye and merocyanine dye are useful. Examples of such dyes which can be used are described in British Pat. Nos. 584,609, 1,177,429, Japanese Patent Application (OPI) Nos. 85130/73, 99620/74, 114420/74, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,274,782, 2,533,472, 2,956,879, 3,148,187, 3,177,078, 3,247,127, 3,540,887, 3,575,704, 3,653,905 and 3,718,472.
• Hardeners which can be used include chromium salts (e.g., chromium alum and chromium acetate), aldehydes (e.g., formaldehyde, glyoxal, and glutaraldehyde), N-methylol compounds (e.g., dimethylol urea and methyloldimethyl hydantoin), dioxane derivatives (e.g., 2,3-dihydroxydioxane), active vinyl compounds (e.g., 1,3,5-triacryloylhexahydro-s-triazine, bis(vinylsulfonyl)methyl ether, and N,N'-methylenebis[ ⁇ -(vinylsulfonyl)propionamide]), active halogen compounds (e.g., 2,4-dichloro-6-hydroxy-s-triazine),
• chromium salts e.g., chromium alum and
• hardeners can be used alone or in combination with each other. Examples are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,870,354, 2,080,019, 2,726,162, 2,870,013, 2,983,611, 2,992,109, 3,047,394, 3,057,723, 3,103,437, 3,321,313, 3,325,287, 3,362,827, 3,539,644 and 3,543,292, British Pat. Nos. 676,628, 825,544, and 1,270,578, German Pat. Nos. 872,153 and 1,090,427, Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 7133/59 and 1872/71, etc.
• the photographic emulsion of this invention may contain various known surfactants as auxiliary coating agents or for the purposes of preventing electrification, improving sliding properties, accelerating emulsification-dispersion, preventing adhesion and of improving photographic characteristics.
• Surfactants which can be used include nonionic surfactants, such as saponin (steroid-based), polyalkylene-glycol alkyl-amines or -amines, polyethylene oxide adducts of silicon, glycidol derivatives (e.g., alkenylsuccinic acid polyglyceride, and alkylphenol polyglycide), aliphatic acid esters of polyhydric alcohol, and alkylesters, urethanes or ethers of sugar; anionic surfactants containing acidic groups (e.g., a carboxy group, a sulfo group, a phospho group, a sulfate group, and a phosphate group), such as triterpenoid-based saponin, alkyl carboxylates, alkyl sulfonates, alkylbenzenesulfonates, alkylnaphthalenesulfonates, alkylsulfates, alkyl phosphates
• aqueous silver nitrate solution and an aqueous potassium bromide solution were added at the same time to an aqueous gelatin solution maintained at 65° C. over a period of 50 minutes while maintaining pAg at 7.8 to prepare a silver bromide emulsion having an average grain size of 0.20 ⁇ .
• sodium thiosulfate and chloroauric acid were added to the emulsion, and the resulting mixture was subjected to chemical-aging at 65° C. for 60 minutes.
• the thus-obtained film was brought into contact with a 150 line gray contact screen, exposed to light through a stage wedge for sensitometry, developed at 32° C. for 1 minute by the use of a developer having the composition shown below, stopped, fixed, washed with water, and dried.
• grade (5) indicates the best dot quality and Grade (1), the worst. As a dot original for plate-making, only Grades (5) and (4) are usable.
• the screen range is indicated by the difference between the logarithmic values of exposure amounts to provide blackened areas of 5% and 95%. As the difference is greater, the screen range is wide.
• the results obtained by combining a presently used lith light-sensitive element and lith development are shown: that is, Fuji Lith VO-100 available on the market was exposed in the same manner as described above and developed with Fuji Lith Developer HS-1 for a standard period of time (100 seconds at 27° C.). Since users are generally experienced with and accustomed to dot image formation using conventional lith system (i.e., conventional lith light-sensitive element and conventional lith developer), the system of this invention has preferably a screen range similar to that of the conventional lith system for easy handling of the system of this invention by users.
• the dot quality and screen range obtained by using the compound represented by formula (I) in combination with the compound represented by formula (II) are improved over those obtained by using known hydroquinone derivative (a) and indazole compound (b) in combination with the compound represented by formula (II).
• a silver bromide emulsion was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1. To the thus-obtained silver bromide emulsion were added 5-methylbenzotriazole, 4-hydroxy-6-methyl-1,3,3a,7-tetrazaindene, a dispersion of polyethyl acrylate, and a 2-hydroxy-4,6-dichloro-1,3,5-triazine sodium salt, and the resulting mixture was divided into 9 portions.

Landscapes

• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Spectroscopy & Molecular Physics (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Silver Salt Photography Or Processing Solution Therefor (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=13050804

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Cited By (27)

Families Citing this family (10)

Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (1)

• 1980
  • 1980-04-30 JP JP5726980A patent/JPS56153336A/ja active Granted
• 1981
  • 1981-04-23 GB GB8112640A patent/GB2077453B/en not_active Expired
  • 1981-04-28 DE DE3116807A patent/DE3116807C2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1981-04-30 US US06/259,277 patent/US4332878A/en not_active Expired - Lifetime

Patent Citations (3)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events